French Wine Laws: Loire Valley and Alsace Flashcards
1
Q
Review: % of NYS wine is?
A
75%
2
Q
Review: Signature Red Varietals of Long Island
A
Red Bordeaux varietals
3
Q
Review: Signature White Grape Varietal of Oregon?
A
Pinot Gris
4
Q
Review: WA is located west of ___
A
Cascades
5
Q
Who and why did INAO - Institut National des Appellations D’Origne 1935(governing body) start?
A
- A regulatory function started in 1935 to control certain aspects of grape growing and wine production in specific geographic areas
- INAO monitors both viticultural and vinicultural practices in the AOC region
- Started because there was wine fraud
6
Q
AOC regulates the following: (3)
A
- Place of Origin (restricted geography)
- Grape Varieties (only specific grapes)
- Alcohol Content (minimum and maximum)
7
Q
What happens when the vineyard does not follow the regulations?
A
AOC has the authority to declassify the wine which leads to a decrease in profits
8
Q
What are the following characteristics that are regulated region by region? (3)
A
- Maximum yields (hectoliters per hectare)
- When harvest may begin each year
- Production methods (winemaking, chaptalization etc.)
Note: This is done region by region and the local governing body has the power to declassify a producer’s wine
9
Q
What are the wine laws known as in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal?
A
AOC in France
DOC in Italy
DO in Spain
DOC in Portugal
Wine laws can help establish authenticity and set certain standards but they can not guarantee quality.
10
Q
What are the three/four classifications of French wine?
A
- Vins de France (14%)
- Vins de Pays/ Indication Geographique Protegee (31%)
- VDQs - Vins Delimites Qualite Suiperieure - removed
- Appellation d’Origine Controlee/ AOP (55%)
11
Q
Vins de France
A
14%
- Simple ordinary wines
- No Geographic designation
- Vintage and varietal allowed
- Oak tea bags, chips, powdered tannin, etc. are OK
12
Q
Vins de Pays/ Indication Geographique Protegee
A
31%
- Country wines produced in large geographic areas
- Made from Vinifera and Hybrids
- No varietal restrictions
- 85% of grapes come from a region
13
Q
VDQs - Vins Delimites Qualite Superieure
A
No longer a classification –> removed and upped to AOC
14
Q
Appellation d’Origine Controlee/ AOP
A
55%
- The top quality wines produced in specific controlled places
- Lots of regulations
15
Q
Classification & Geography
A
Vins de Table/ France - All of France
Vins de Pays/ IGP - A section of France
AOC/AOP - A specific and proven wine region
16
Q
Loire Valley leading producer for?
A
- France’s leading producer of white wines (red, rose, sparkling, still, dry and sweet (too))
- France’s 2nd leading AOC region for fine sparkling wines
17
Q
How many AOCs are in Loire Valley?
A
63
18
Q
Loire Valley in terms of production (acres, hectolitres, cases)
A
France’s 3rd largest region in terms of production with 172,973 acres, 2.8 million hectolitres, 32.2 million cases
19
Q
Loire Valley White grapes (3)
A
- Chenin Blanc - Pineau de la Loire (cultivated in 845 AD)
- Melon de Bourgogne - Muscadet
- Sauvignon Blanc
20
Q
AOC Districts in the Loire
A
- Pays Nantais
- Anjou
- Saumur
- Touraine
- East/Upper Loire
21
Q
Loire Valley Label Regulations
A
- Wines named after the places where the grapes are grown (villages)
- The place dictates the grape which can
be used
e.g. Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc) - Grape Varieties: 100% for most AOC
wines except when noted as a blend
22
Q
How many appellations are in Nantes? Names? Grape?
A
4
Muscadet, Muscadet Des Coteaux de la Loire,
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, and Muscadet de
Grandlieu (newest AOC- about 500 acres)
Grape - Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet)
23
Q
Muscadet - Sur Lie
A
The wine is left on the “fine” lees
after vinification until it is bottled.
- adds flavor
- gives the wine more texture
24
Q
INAO regulations specify two dates for bottling Sur Lie:
A
- The 1st is between March 1
and June 30th, following the
harvest - The 2nd is between October 15 and November 30th
25
Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC "Sur Lie", Domaine du Moulin Camus, Loire Valley 2016
Sight: Pale straw
Smell: citrus, lemon, grapefruit, tart, green grammy smith apple
Taste: acidic, creaminess
GV: Muscadet
great w/ oysters
Cost: $14
26
Melon de Bourgogne/ Muscadet Grape
Grown virtually nowhere else -- produces wines of penetrating minerality and acidity, with fresh, clean, citrus flavors
27
Domaine Du Moulin Camus
35 year old vines
| 100% Muscadet
28
What is Muscadet's appeal?
Delicacy and steely vigor
29
What food pairing recommendations goes well with Muscadet
Many seafood dishes
Light poultry preparations
pasta dishes
30
Loire Valley's History
- The medieval knights build fortresses
- The kings of the 15th & 16th centuries
built pleasure castles
- The nobility of the 17th & 18th centuries built elegant châteaux
31
What to know about Loire Valley tourism?
```
- The Loire Valley in west
central France covers 350
scenic miles east to west.
- Endless variety of food: fresh fish, shellfish, some of the best cheese, meats, and game
- Very good white wines and
decent reds.
```
32
AOC Districts in the Upper Loire (Eastern)
Upper Loire (Eastern)
- Sancerre
- Pouilly-Fume
- Reuilly
- Quincy
Grapes - Sauvignon Blanc & Pinor Noir
33
Sancerre (wines, export)
80% White and 20% Rose/Red
| 40% Exported
34
Sauvignon Blanc Sancerre AOC, Chateau de Sancerre, Loire Valley 2015
Sight: pale straw color with water rim
Smell: bell pepper, herbaceous, underripe citrus
Taste: Acidic, Bell pepper, grassy
GV: Sauvignon Blanc
Cost: $27
Paired: Seared scallop
35
Sauvignon Blanc in Cool colimates
- Grassy
- Herbaceous
- Vegetal- bell pepper
- Green olive
- Gun metal pow
- Grapefruit
- Gooseberry
36
Chateau De Sancerre
- only castle in Sancerre
- Winery founded in 1919 by Louis- Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle
- 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- Stainless steel fermentation
- On fermentation lees for a minimum of 6
37
Food matches with Sauvignon Blanc
- Seafood
- Grilled light fish
- Goat Cheese
38
Label terms
- Vielles Vignes old vines - no legal definition
Production statements:
Mis en bouteille a la propriete
Mis en bouteille au Domaine
Mis en bouteille par
39
Sparkling wines from the Loire
- Made by the Methode Traditionnelle just like Champagne but with local grapes ( Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc)
- Cremant de Loire
- Saumur Brut
- Montlouis sur Loire
- Anjou Mousseux, Touraine Mousseux
- Vouvray
40
Only in the Loire Valley of France, does ____ show its glorious potential
Chenin Blanc
41
Styles of Chenin Blanc (4)
- Sec - dry
- Demi sec/Tendre - off dry (slightly sweet)
- Moelleux - semi sweet
- Doux (liquoreux) - sweet
42
Anjou: Dry wines
- Savennieres
- Saumur
Grapes - Chenin Blanc
43
Popular wines in Savennieres
- Chenin Blanc
- Acreage 358
- Has two sub-appellations:
Roche-aux-Moines & Coulée-de-Serrant
- Pre-dominantly dry with some off-dry and sparkling allowed
44
Popular wines in Anjou: Sweet wines
- Coteaux du Layon ($45 -$65 500ml)
- Bonnezeaux
- Quarts de Chaume (Grand Cru 2011)
Grapes - Chenin Blanc
45
Popular wines in Touraine
* Chinon -- Cabernet Franc
* Bourgueil-- Cabernet Franc
* Cheverny -- Sauvignon Blanc
* Vouvray -- Chenin Blanc
46
Popular wines in Vouvray:
- White and sparkling
- Chenin Blanc
- Dry, off-dry, and sweet
- Top soil of siliceous-clay and limestone
clay over tuffeau
47
Chenin Blanc Vouvray AOC "Classic" Marc Bredif, Loire Valley 2015
Sight: Pale straw
Smell: Honeydew melon, honey
Taste: honey, a bit more fruity, blossomed in mouth, tropic
GV: Chenin Blanc
Cost: $20
48
Marc Bredif
- Hand harvested
- Pneumatic pressed
- Free run juice
- Fermented over 2 months
- 9 months on lees
49
Chenin Blanc Varietal Characteristics
Fruity, Melon, Peach, Apple, Citrus
Late Harvest Chenin Blanc:
Honey, tropical fruits, apricot, quince, orange and lemon zest
50
Loire Valley Red Grapes
1. Cabernet Franc
2. Grolleau
3. Gamay Noir a Jus Blanc
4. Pinot Noir
51
Rose - Methods of Production
1. Maceration
2. Bleeding/ Saignee
3. White + Red
52
Alsace has a wide range of __ grape varieties. What status do they have?
- A wide range of white grape varieties (90%
white)
- Varietal wines, all with AOC status
- Fresh, fruit-driven, aromatic, and non-oaked wines
53
Alsace has how many AOCs?
3
54
When did viticulture begin in Alsace?
Viticulture began with the arrival of Caesar in 58 BC
55
15th century Alsace
Exported over 1,000,000 hectoliters of wines a year
56
What rule were Alsace wines under?
While under German rule, Alsace wines were blended with German wines
57
Today, what is Alsace production?
Today it produces 18% of all AOC white wines in France
58
Why is Alsace a great place to visit?
- Fortresses on the hilltops of the Vosges
- Sleepy little villages, the same as they were constructed in the Middle Ages
- Regional food specialities you will love
59
White grape varieties break down in Alsace
90%
```
Riesling - 21.8%
Gewurztraiminer 19.6%
Pinot Blanc 21.3%
Sylvaner 6.8%
Pinot Gris 15.4%
Muscat 2.3%
```
60
Red grape varieties break down
10%
| - Pinot Noir
61
What is Alsace rainfall?
Lowest in France; less than 20 inches per year
62
Alsace growing season
50 days longer than Germany - this long hang time produces very aromatic wines
- Approved yields - highest in France
- 80 hl/ha (5+ tons/acre)
63
Alsace soil types
Limestone/Sand; Clay/Marlstone;
| Flint/Schist/Shale/Slate
64
AOC status
Appellation Alsace Controlee -71.5%
AOC yields of 80 hl/ha (5 tons/acre)
Appellation Cremant d'Alsace 24.6%
These sparkling wines made with local grape varieties
Alsace Grand Cru 1975/1983 3.9% of production
65
Alsace Grand Cru
- only 3.9% of total production
(yields restricted to 4 tons/acre) Some
- top producers limit yields to less than 2 tons/acre
- 51 vineyards have been granted Grand Cru status
- Only Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat and Gewurztraminer qualify for Grand Cru
66
RIESLING: Varietal Characteristics
Fruity, apricot, peach, green
| apples, floral, lemon, tropical lushness
67
Riesling Herrenreben
- Once belonged to nobleman Ribeaupierre
- 1.5 hectares (3.75 acres)
- 40 year old vines
- 4,000 bottles produced
68
What are Alsace Blended Wines?
1. Gentil - Minimum 50% Riesling,
Muscat, Pinot Gris, and/or
Gewürztraminer
2. Edelzwicker: a blend of white grapes of AOC Alsace without any indication of
percentage
69
Pinot Gris "Les Princes Abbes", Domaines Schlumberger, Alsace AOC 2014
Sight: more golden in color
Smell: honey, grass, melon --> ripe honeydrew
Taste: ripeness, medium dry
GV: Pinot Gris
Cost: $20
Pair: fish, chicken, pork
70
Pinot Gris Varietal Characteristics
Mango, melon, apple, pear, honey
71
Domaine Schlumberger
- Growers since 1610
- Estate acquired from
the monks “The Princes Abbés” after the French Revolution
- Brother and sister team now
manage the estate
72
Controlled Alsace label terms
Varietal Label - 100% of the grape named
Vendanges Tardives - late harvest but often fermented dry
Selection de Grains Nobles - Botrytis Cinerea affected grapes ($50-$150 half bottle)
73
Non-controlled label terms
- Reserve
- Personnelle
- Cuvee
- Special
74
Gewürztraminer Domaine Zind Humbrecht, Alsace AOC 2015
Sight: similar to Pinot Gri, pale golden hue
Smell: roses --> more aromatic than the ones in Finger Lakes, lychee
Taste: sweet, ginger
GV: Gewürztraminer
75
Gewürztraminer: Characteristic Varietal
Rich aromas of flowers, spices and exotic fruits rose, acacia, peppermint, clove, cinnamon, ginger
- Grapefruit, litchi, mango, pineapple, pear, quince, honeysuckle
- Full-bodied, well-structured and powerful
- High alcohol, low acidity - sometimes produced slightly sweet
76
Domaine Zind Humbrecht Gewürztraminer
Continuous winemaking lineage since 1620
- 2002, Certified organic and biodynamic
- Own 100 acres, including 4 Grand Cru vineyards
The Wine:
- 100% Gewürztraminer
- 8 months in 40 year-old French barrels
77
Oliver Humbrecht
- Winemaker at Family's estate since 1969
- President of Syndicat International des Vignerons en Culture Bio-Dynamique/Biodyvin (SIVCBD) since 2002
- President of the Alsace Grand Cru Association since 2011
